PA Primary Candidates Kick Campaigns Into High Gear

PA Primary Candidates Kick Campaigns Into High Gear

Rita Daywalt and Paul Schemel are this year's Republican candidates for state representative in the 90th district.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. - Pennsylvania primary elections are only about a month away and candidates are kicking their campaigns into high gear.

Rita Daywalt and Paul Schemel are this year's Republican candidates for state representative in the 90th district.

The 90th district includes Antrim, Washington, Hamilton, Quincy, and Letterkenny Townships as well as the boroughs of Greencastle, Waynesboro, and Mont Alto.

Both Daywalt and Schemel have been busy going door to door in these areas.

Daywalt says her time on the Waynesboro Area School Board has prepared her by allowing her to be transparent with the community she serves.

"Since I’ve been on the board, in the last 2 and a half years, we have eliminated the $1.5 million deficit” said Daywalt. “I've done exactly what I had promised to do when I ran for school board."

Meanwhile, Schemel says his experience as a business lawyer will help him serve as representative. He also highlights his time in Iraq when he served as a liaison officer for the State Department, helping set up local governments.

"I work with families and businesses, I’ve also been very fortunate to have been there to help hundreds of businesses in our community,” said Schemel. “I know what helps them grow."

For these candidates, the stakes are high. Winning the race means the opportunity to enact change on a local level.

Daywalt says one of the main things she will focus on if she wins is eliminating property taxes.

"Myself personally, our property tax is about $4,000 a year and that's money that I would have to put into my community's economy,” said Daywalt, adding that she thinks property taxes are one of Franklin County residents’ main concerns.

Schemel wants to reduce Pennsylvania’s deficit. He says the state has a lot of work to do to get its budget on the right track.

"The state legislature and the governor are going to have to work very hard to balance the budget, to look forward to a projected budget that will cover our expenses,” said Schemel.

Despite their differences, both candidates say regardless of who you vote for, they want everyone to go out and cast a ballot in the primary elections on May 20, 2014.